The influence of Aegopodium podagraria L. extract and tincture on behavioural reactions of random-bred mice

Abstract

Aegopodium podagraria is used as a sedative in traditional medicine. The effect of its aerial part extract and tincture on levels of depression and anxiety, as well as on locomotor activity, exploratory behaviour and memory of male and female mice was investigated. The extract showed dose-dependent and sex specific antidepressive effect (at a dose of 100 mg/kg but not at a dose of 1 g/kg in female mice) with the worsening of the results of the passive avoidance test. The extract at a dose of 100 mg/kg tended to reduce anxiety signs in the animals of both sexes, in male mice such reduction was also seen under the influence of the extract at a dose of 1 g/kg and the tincture at doses of 1 and 5 ml/kg (the latter did not considerably changed the other parameters measured). The results indicate favourable central activity of A. podagraria extract in mice.